Cynthia Martinez - Filmmaker

My name is Cynthia Martinez.  I was born and raised in Holland, Michigan. I am a first-generation college graduate, film maker, writer, and producer.  Like many students, I graduated from university with an enormous amount of debt, which I have spent years paying off.  With this documentary, I want to change the narrative and the stereotypes that surround low-income, first-generation students, many of whom are unable to pursue higher education simply because of finances. All Upward Bound (UB) students have the intelligence, the work ethic, and the desire to pursue higher education, and finances should never be the barrier to their goals and dreams. The film, “First Voice Generation,” follows the journeys of six Upward Bound students.  These students are overcoming significantly more challenges, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic of the past year.  These are the students who are often ignored or overlooked. They are the stories of hope, resilience, and persistence in overcoming hardships, particularly during a pandemic year. No one is focused on these students. They will be forgotten unless we decide their stories need to be heard.

 

I am the executive producer/director of this production.  I have an M.S. in Journalism from New York’s Columbia University and have worked at Univision’s News Division in Miami.  I have self-funded the film to date and am partnering with the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Holland as the film’s fiscal sponsor.  The Boys and Girls Club’s (BGCGH) mission is to inspire and empower Greater Holland's children and teens, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens.   First Voice Generation is a natural extension to further the mission of the BGCGH for our community.